Government has stated that 20 men arrested in the Akenteng Forest Reserve for illegal mining activities are not staff or operatives of the Ministry of National Security.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau have revealed that the arrested persons were engaged by a contract staff of the Ministry for the said activity.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, May 7, 2021, and assured the public the Ministry of National Security remains fully committed to the fight against illegal mining in the country.
He cautioned citizens against perpetrating crime under the guise of National Security, and warned persons found culpable will be made to face the full rigours of the law.
Some youth of Akyem Akenteng in the West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region on May 4, 2021, arrested the 20 men when they entered the Akenteng Forest to illegally mine gold.
The men who claimed to be National Security operatives were subsequently picked up by the Eastern Regional Police Command with the said Nationa Security contractor.
They have all been remanded and are due to be arraigned before court.
Source: MyPublisher24.com